Awesome Movie

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

This Cinderella story stars the wonderful Colleen Moore as the much put upon Ella Cinders. Ella is the household drudge for her nasty step-sisters (Lotta and Prissy Pill) and step-mother. Ella's one pal is the iceman, Waite Lifter. Ella's chance to escape comes when the Gem Studio is promoting a movie contest ball. Among the funniest scenes in the movie are when Ella goes to a professional photographer to get the photo needed for the contest. As she's leaving her house, a title card informs us that "When Ella got into her good clothes, six moths laughed until they died." The session with the photographer does not go well for Ella (but it does for audience!)- thanks to a pesky fly. That and the bit Ella does with her eyes were amazing and funny. Much to the chagrin of her step-relatives, Ella wins the contest because the judges were sure Hollywood needed an actress who could cross her eyes while looking at a fly on her nose. Arriving in Hollywood, Ella does not have the reception she expected, but perseveres and through some clever studio gate crashing (and the amusing help from Harry Langdon), Ella lands a long term movie contract. But, she gives it all up to marry her Prince Charming, the erstwhile Waite Lifter (actually George Waite, the son of a wealthy businessman). Once a little boy iceman cometh, Ella's life seems a perfect Hollywood ending. Well, Ella certainly earned it. As every reviewer has commented, Colleen Moore was a joy to watch and makes it worth seeing this movie more than once.

"Ella Cinders" came out in 1926 and was a huge success for it's star, Colleen Moore. It was based on a comic strip that had appeared the year before and while it lasted until 1961, it just sort of ambled along. The movie was another matter - Colleen had one of her best roles and for once the character in the movie actually looked like the one in the comic strip. The movie retained most of the strip's other characters including Lotta and Prissy Pill, Ella's horrible half sisters and set the story in the intriguing (to film goers at the time) world of Hollywood.Poor little slavey Ella Cinders (Colleen Moore) is worked to death by her horrendous family, Lotta Pill ("always anxious to look her best and her best is none too good"), Prissie Pill and her dragon of a mother (Vera Lewis). "Waiting" in the wings is the ice man and Ella's champion, Waite Lifter (Lloyd Hughes). He is always there with a shoulder to cry on and Ella sure needs one of those. Meanwhile the "Pollyanna Club" is abuzz with excitement - Roseville is going to pick a girl to represent them in Hollywood for a "Find a Star" competition and Lotta is sure she will be the chosen one. Ella is also determined to enter the competition to seek a way out of the town that has caused her so much unhappiness. There follows some hilarious sequences Ella's "Eye Exercises", impersonating Jackie Coogan for some children and the "fly on the nose" at the photographers.Surprisingly to her family (but not to Waite) Ella wins (her "fly on the nose" picture impressed the judges who were looking for new, funny talent). Disillusion sets in as soon as she disembarks the train. Expecting a big fan fare to greet her, there is a crowd at the station, but they are there to welcome the Indians who have traveled with her. She then proclaims "I'm Ella Cinders - the beauty contest winner", a man replies "I'll keep your secret" and when she finally arrives at GEM Studios it is to find that they are on location in Egypt (the organ music plays strains from "Lawrence of Arabia" which is a bit disconcerting). She is determined not to get discouraged and there is a hilarious scene in which she is trying to "crash" the movies and Harry Langdon makes a brief guest appearance to help her to evade capture. The story has a happy ending. Ella becomes a star, Waite is discovered to be rich, posing as an iceman (for whatever reason I haven't a clue)!!! He goes to Hollywood to seek Ella out and finds her scrubbing the floor at the station - she is filming her latest movie but Waite thinks she hasn't succeeded and scoops her up on to the now moving train to carry her off to wedded happiness. This is such a lovely movie, with emphasis on characterisation and not slapstick. While definitely not as good as "The Extra Girl" or "Show People" it is a gentle look at the movie industry as Colleen plays a girl who forsakes Hollywood for the simple life.Highly Recommended.

Because the plot of this very well-produced silent film is so easily recognizable as "Cinderella", it can be one of your most enjoyable introductions to both the silent film genre, and to one of its most popular actresses, Colleen Moore. The film was an adaptation of the then popular new comic strip "Ella Cinders", with changes to the heroine's situation that were perfectly suited to a silent film starring Ms. Moore. The film easily transcends its source, and succeeds as prime example of the often repeated story about a young woman achieving her dream to become a Hollywood movie star - itself, a "Cinderella" story. Who knew comic strips could be perfect silent film fodder… The Hollywood "movie set" scenes aren't as clever as in other films of this type, despite the appearance of Harry Langdon and others, in cameos. Director Alfred E. Green, Lloyd Hughes (as George Waite), and Vera Lewis (as Ma Cinders) make good contributions. Interestingly, Moore is best on screen, alone, with a lion or fire; and, when attempting to, "Master the art of expressing every emotion with the eyes," imitate Jackie Coogan, and pose at a "photo session" for the movie star contest she eventually wins. "Ella Cinders" was a huge success, and helped propel Colleen Moore to the #1 position on Quigley Publications' "Box Office Stars" list for 1926. ******** Ella Cinders (6/6/26) Alfred E. Green ~ Colleen Moore, Lloyd Hughes, Vera Lewis

Months ago I hunted down this film for Coleen Moore since I had never seen her in anything before and I wish to give every silent film star a chance. Imagine my surprise! Not only was Coleen a completely wonderful entertainer but Ella Cinders also turns out to be a little forgotten gem of silent cinema.Although nothing earth shattering, that's fine because nobody wants to be overwhelmed with huge epics all the time. Occasionally everyone wants to escape into an easy, breezy, cute comedy they can just laugh at and enjoy. Ella Cinders accomplishes this.Basically a simple Cinderella story, Moore stars as Ella, a girl who's sadly mistreated by her step-family (a mother and two sisters). The only light in her life seems to be her good guy friend Waite (played by gorgeous Lloyd Hughes). When a Hollywood contest comes to town, looking for a lovely new girl to turn into a star, Ella is determined to win. Everything takes off from there and quickly the story twists, turns, and does cartwheels into one of the funniest comedies of the silent era.Coleen makes the movie a riot with her comedic talent. She really shines during the scene when she goes to have her picture taken and a fly keeps landing on her nose whenever the impatient camera man tries to snap the photo. Priceless. Harry Langdon has a short appearance as himself and is funny as always.The Grapevine video for this movie doesn't have the best print and the organ score doesn't fit the flow of the film at all - but unfortunately it is the only choice we have.Have you had a hard day? Boss nagging you? Homework building up? Pop in Ella Cinders and forget it all. Let it take you away.